Kieo- Cookies!!
Me- No, Not yet. I will answer all questions at the end of the story and hand out the cookies.
Kieo-awwwww...
Bob- They probably want to read!
Me- -sighs- I don't own Princess Mononoke or any of the characters excluding....
Bob- Myaki, Kika, Myaki's Mother, Kieza, and Kieza's Father.
Kieo- And the old Woman
Bob- Yes, and the dove!
Me- Of course..How could we forget the dove? Anyways, enjoy.
Chapter 6
Myaki-The emperor's golden robes brushed the dirt-less floor as he stooped to his young daughters' level.
"Hello Kika-san." The young girl ran into his embrace.
"Daddy!" She squealed happily as she tried to fit her tiny arms around his mid-section.
The emperor put one of his hands into his robes and withdrew a small necklace. It had a small silver chain and in the center lay an ivory dove that swung back and forth in the emperor's hands. Kika squealed excitedly as her father laid it in her hands.
"Mommy, Mommy look what daddy brought home for me!" She hopped happily around the room as her mother came forward. The emperor stood up as his wife came forwards. Both bowed slightly to the other.
"Where is Myaki-san?" The emperor's face was grim as he looked up to scan the balconies above. The woman beside him shook her head.
"You may send for him if you wish." Her voice was almost hopeful. The emperor sighed shaking his head, his black hair shifting around on his head. His hair was barely longer than Myaki's and was tied back in an identical braid.
"Why will he never come anymore?" His wife leaned slightly against him, ad he let his arms encircle her body. On the other side of the room, Kika was jumping around smiling servants. All of them wearing identical kimonos. The Emperor's wife finally pulled away from her husband.
"Why don't you and Myaki go on a trip together?" Her face was set, "You two never interact with each other." The emperor frowned slightly, studying the blue and white flower patterned tiles on the floor. He finally sighed and looked up.
"I probably should...There's a nice little town to the east were they make wonderful iron. I bet Myaki would like it there." The emperor nodded to his wife. "You are one of the smartest women ever." He gave her a light kiss on the cheek before going to the long staircase.
His wife smiled after him and looked over at her daughter. "Kika, would you like me to help you put that on?" Kika turned and ran over to her mother.
"Yes, Please!" She stood quivering with excitement as her mother took the silver chain from her hands and latched it around her neck.
Kika's blue eyes widened as she looked down at the dove. She ran over to all the servants, tugging on their sleeves to get them to feel and admire the small piece of ivory.
Up another floor, the emperor had stopped outside Myaki's door. The red wood embeled with golden dragons. He took a deep breath and raised his hand to the door. The sound emitted was low as it traveled through the wood.
Inside Myaki lay sprawled out on his bed, looking up at the black and silver canopy. When he was little he had pretended that the silver stars were all small dragons, playing in the skies. Now he was too old for such childish fantasies like that. At the first knock he looked over at the door before ignoring it.
After the third one resounded through the door he lifted his head from the bed and called, "Come in already will you!" The emperor's head poked into the room and scanned his eyes over Myaki's form.
"Well," the emperor sat down on the dark green spread that covered the bed, "You're mother and I have been talking about you and I going on a trip." Myaki glared at him with stormy eyes. The emperor observed him and cleared his throat. "You remember Jigo right?" Myaki continued to glare at him with unwavering attention. "Well, he went to a small town where they make some of the best iron in all of Japan." Myaki had turned his head towards the windows.
The emperor sighed inwardly as he continued. "We were thinking that you should come along on our next trip." Myaki was still gazing out the window, his mouth now set in a frown. "Well," the emperor pushed himself off of the bed. "Pack for a few weeks, if you decide to come with us." Was the last thing he said before disappearing behind the door.
Myaki sighed and let his face relax from its previously unchanging expression. Closing his eyes Myaki slumped back onto his pillows. Over a week of traveling with his stepfather, this was going to be torture...
Kieza-The small gray mare walked slowly down the dirt road, decelaitly stepping over the small ditches in the road. Her rider sat on her back staring into her mane; the blank look on her face betrayed none of her thoughts.
Ahead, the colorful wagon rumbled down the road. Seemingly hitting every ditch it could. Kieza could hear her fathers' whip crack across the stallions' back. The girl leaned forward against her horse.
"Mist, Father says that we are heading to a land where forests everywhere." The mare flicked her gray ears back as if she could understand what the girl had said. Kieza sighed, "Imagine, Forests everywhere...." She could only imagine the endless forests. She smiled slightly at the thought.
Her father ahead yelled back. "We're almost there! Stay outta sight and if anyone speaks to you don't say a word!"
Kieza sighed as she saw the light that meant that the wood was ending and they would soon be in town. She reached down and smoothed out her shift. The mare beneath her shifted slightly, causing Kieza to tumble forward into her mane clutching the rough hair in her hands. Kieza laughed and the mare brayed at her. Only as the woods gave way to the houses of the settlement did Kieza stop laughing.
The colorful wagon had stopped among the dense mass of houses. Kieza gave a slight tug on Mist's mane and the mare stopped. Her father had opened his cart and was showing his wares to someone.
The children crowded to see the variety of toys while women admired finely crafted cooking tools. Kieza sighed again as she nudged Mist forward. The gray pony stepped lightly among the people on the street. Few people stopped to look at the young girl who looked as many slaves do. Other people simply ignored her dismissing her for the low class.
Kieza clutched Mist's mane, her fingers tangling into the many knots. So many times had Kieza daydreamed of what would ever happen if she escaped her father. She and Mist would run free and live on their own. After learning a trade she would make a living of it and people would come from all over Japan to see her work. Then one day the emperor would come and buy something. She would then take all her extra money and put it towards a comb. One of the really pretty ones that high-class traders sold, the ones that only royalty used. They were made of a material called Ivory. On the ones that Kieza had once seen there had different patterns on them. Dragons, flowers, birds...each one meant something different. Kieza wished for the dove one, the one for peace and happiness.
So caught up in the thoughts about the comb, she never saw the last house of the village pass nor the on coming trees. When Mist had gone far enough into the forest, Kieza looked up and a tree branch snapped across her cheek leaving a stinging sensation in the area. As Kieza rubbed the spot, she stopped Mist.
Ahead of her were two trees, clothing of all sorts hung between them on a small string. Shifting her gaze around she saw that she now stood in a clearing, surrounded by pine trees. In the center stood a small wooden cabin. To the opposite side of the clearing lay a crystal clear stream that wove it's way between the rocks.
Kieza then turned her attention towards the cabin. It was made of roughly cut logs, each with a notch near the end and another log fitting into the groove. And so the pattern continued up the side of the cabin to the roof, where what appeared to be reeds met the logs. A small window was cut into the logs, as was the door. Over the door lay a small red quilt. Purple and blue flowers dotted the quilt, their green stems twisting their war about the hanging.
Kieza slid off of Mist, feeling the soft fur as it passed under her hands. Her bare feet landed softly on the ground as she began to walk forward. Mist tossed her head before following behind the young girl. Kieza stopped a few feet from the doorway, her mouth slightly open as she gazed at it. Her eyes tracing the green pathways of the endless maze. Her mare stepped behind her and gazed at it as if she too were entranced by the patterns.
Then a twig cracked somewhere within the forest and Kieza whirled around. A little old lady stood at the edge of the clearing, a basket under her arm. Kieza eyed her over, deciding that she wasn't a threat. The ladies hair was gray and seemed, as though it had been forced into a small bun at the back of the ladies head. Many wisps had escaped it though and stuck out from her head at odd angles. She wore a faded blue dress with a pink shawl over it. She was shorter than Kieza's shoulders with deep brown eyes with small spectacles over them. The two just stared at each other before Mist finally broke the silence by nickering quietly. The old ladies' stunned face turned to a smile and shuffled forward towards Kieza.
"Are you lost young one?" Kieza nodded dumbly as she continued to stare at the woman. "Well, come in and have some tea." The woman shuffled past Kieza and reached out to pull the hanging back. She stopped and looked back at Kieza. "Your mare should stay outside, tell her that I do have carrots." The old woman pulled back the hanging and continued into her house.
Kieza smiled slightly and turned to Mist. Placing a hand on her muzzle she said, "Now, you heard her, stay put and I'll give you some carrots." Mist nuzzled Kieza's open palm before stepping back and bending her head down to nibble at the grass. Kieza grinned at the mare. "I'll be right back, Promise." With that she turned and walked into the cabin.
The inside was small and dark, with cabinets lining all the walls. Drying herbs hung from the ceiling. The wooden floor was darkened from years of work. The small window's shutters were open bringing small sunrays in to pierce the darkness.
The old woman stood by a small stone fireplace, a kettle hung over it and a crackling fire lay within it. She smiled over at Kieza, who stood in a corner half-hidden by the shadows.
"Well," she gestured at the small table in the center of the room. "Sit anywhere you wish. It'll be a while till I'm done."
Kieza nodded slightly and observed the two chairs. Deciding on the one farthest away from the woman she made her way over towards the table.
Ashitaka-The wind driven waves gently lapped the sandy shore of the lake. Ashitaka looked out across the open waters were the Tatara worked endlessly on their new town.
The clean-up crew had taken down one of the smaller houses, clearing away the debris that had surrounded it. Now they worked on forming some sort of structure although what it was Ashitaka could not see.
Yakkul munched lazily on the newest shoots of grass. The trees around them were already taller than Ashitaka was, their green leaves getting larger by the hour. Although they were still short they provided some shade. Ashitaka sat cross-legged on the beach his gaze now firmly held by the coming and retreating waves.
A few lonely clouds blown by the winds crossed his vision before continuing over the mountains. Finally sighing, Ashitaka pushed himself to his feet and continued his walk along the shoreline.
He had promised, promised not to tell about his tribe.
A small pebble rebounded off his foot crating a small clicking noise as it bounced its way down the beach. Yakkul's ears perked up immediately at the sound and he stepped away from his snack to trot after Ashitaka.
Deep in thought Ashitaka turned his head back across the lake to where the small black dots moved. The small building had begun to spring up along the shore. It's wooden frame more than two heights of a man. Small black dots surrounded it, all attempting to help build.
Ashitaka kicked a small pebble again, sending it skipping into the lake. Yakkul came up behind Ashitaka and nudged his back, causing him to stumble forwards. After steadying himself he turned to glare at Yakkul. Whose soft brown eyes gazed into Ashitaka's sadly.
"What!? It's not like I can tell them!" Ashitaka hadn't known how severe his voice was until Yakkul laid his ears back.
Taking a deep breath Ashitaka looked away towards the mountains before looking back. "I'm sorry Yakkul, I didn't mean to yell...it's just...." Ashitaka's voice trailed off as he let his eyes wander.
How long ago had it been since he left?
Ashitaka sighed as he continued, the two drawing continually closer to the village.
Suddenly a blue-black dot flashed out of the cattails to Ashitaka. After dodging, he saw the small bird flying off into the mountains, away from the lake. Ashitaka smiled as he followed the small birds progress until his eye caught on a white object that was on the hill. Ashitaka squinted at it waiting for his vision to focus on it.
About 60 feet up the side of the mountain stood two wolves. Ashitaka immediately recognized them as Taka and Kaeyo-San's half brothers. On one's back sat a small white dove on the other San perched, watching the small bird. They all seemed to be discussing something. Finally they seemed to have agreed with something and the dove took to the skies with the wolves behind her. Yakkul shifted slightly as the four became white dots in the distance. Ashitaka stood in the spot unmoving until the four passed from sight.
Yakkul stepped forward and nudged Ashitaka forwards with his nose. Ashitaka felt the firm push and stumbled forward, throwing out his hands even though he didn't hit the ground. Turning slightly he glared at Yakkul who flicked his ears forwards.
Smiling Ashitaka said, "I suppose we should go, shouldn't we." Yakkul shook his fur before stepping off through the small trees. Ashitaka soon followed.
As the two walked on, drawing closer to the village with each step, Jigo was first of the wandering group to see him. As he looked up from his position of collecting reeds, he saw the boy and elk walk past in the direction of their growing building. He hesitated for a moment, afraid that Ashitaka still may be angry with him.
After long seconds of consideration he turned to the woman at his side. "Sika can you watch over the others and make sure they continue?" When the woman nodded he trotted over towards the shore and slipped on his sandals that had previously been sitting on the grassy bank.
Letting the basket of reeds slide from his arm and onto the bank he took off in a sprint after Ashitaka. Ashitaka slid his eyes over towards Jigo, as he pulled level with him.
"Hello Jigo." Ashitaka's voice held a cold edge to it.
Jigo shifted before responding. "Well..." he paused thinking of what to say next. "The town or should I say building is coming along well...and we could use some help with the design..." Jigo trailed off and looked sideways at Ashitaka who kept his head straight. His face composed into a small frown. Jigo sighed. "You just won't help us will you?"
Ashitaka laid a hand on Yakkul's side, his face betraying none of his thoughts as he spoke. "I can't."
Jigo nodded slightly at the response. "Both Lady Eboshi and I know how you feel... We are both asking you to break your promise while we keep ours hidden."
Ashitaka's eyes widened slightly as he looked over at Jigo. His eyes tracing the older man's face for laughter, for which he found none.
He what?
Jigo smiled at Ashitaka's astonished expression. "Yes, Secrets can be guarded well can't they? If I tell you-will you tell me?"
Ashitaka let his frown break into a smile. "I will, but you have to start now."
San-In and out of the trees Kaeyo weaved. Taka followed silently behind him as the three of them followed the dove. The white speck flew just above the tree line. The sunrays gleamed down lighting the path through the trees that now reached San's shoulders' on her perch on Kaeyo's back. Small multi-colored dragonflies flew beside and behind the small group.
The sun had risen since the time that they had left the mountain by the lake. Now the dove had led them over the mountains and into the valley beyond. San observed their surroundings. The trees here were different than they were by the lake.
Suddenly, a faint noise caught her ears and she nudged Kaeyo before leaning forward to whisper into her brothers' ear.
"I hear a stream ahead." Kaeyo's eyes shifted towards her and he nodded as he slowed down. The dove seemed to sense his stopping and flew over to a nearby tree, lighting on one of the branches.
Taka, however, was wrapped up in his own thoughts on the forest and continued at his normal speed. Only realizing a second to late of his position, he pulled his feet forward, skidding and trying in vain to stop.
Slowed but still moving he ran into Kaeyo. Sending both wolves and their half-sister tumbling to the ground.
Kaeyo growled quietly to himself as he pushed his body from the ground. Taka lay still for a moment, apparently still lost in his thoughts, processing what had just happened. San, who had landed near the base of a tree, pushed herself up and surveyed the scene. Kaeyo sat, still grumbling to him self while he eyed Taka. His fur was ruffled and coated with dark patches of dirt. Taka was just beginning to get up himself. He was equally as dirty as Kaeyo was.
Above the dove laughed quietly to herself. San looked up to catch the doves' eye, smiling to herself.
"You idiot!" Kaeyo's deep voice rumbled.
"It's not my fault! Was I the one who stopped in the middle of the path?" Taka responded quickly.
"Well, you should have been watching instead of day-dreaming of the forest!"
Both brothers were standing eye-to-eye; ears back with their teeth bared. The moment triggered a moment from San's memory of long ago. Recalling their previous fight from when she was younger, San leaned against the tree unable to keep the chuckle inside.
The sound caused both brothers to put their ears forward and look over at her. Still smiling she walked over to them.
"Come on you two..." She trailed off to re-collect herself. "As I was saying before the little...Heel tumble, there should be a stream over that way." She pointed off towards a group of pine trees from which the streams' sound came from.
Smiling the dove took flight towards the cluster of trees, "I think a drink would be wonderful!" With that she disappeared behind the green mass. San gave one last look at her brothers before following the dove.
When both had disappeared from sight, both wolves were still sitting next to each other looking towards the trees. Looking at each other they shrugged and followed.
San knelt before the crystal clear stream. Moss coated banks surrounded it, backed by the pines. The water flowed slowly leaving the rocks at the bottom detailed instead of blurred. Most were a green hue like the moss but a few sapphire and tan ones were thrown into the mix. The dove now sat in one of the pines having already gotten her drink. San pushed herself off of the moss as he brothers came forward.
Drawing an arm across her mouth, she drew off any traces of extra water droplets. While she watched both her brothers drink she thought back.
In the midst of the battles she had recorded everything in her mind, not having time then to process everything. Now seemed the perfect time to go over it.
There had been many flashes of light and loud crashes as the humans had lit their bombs and sent them crashing into the mass of boars. She had been on Taka's back then, Kaeyo was away from them fighting his way through the humans with the other boars...
Taka and Kaeyo were no longer drinking but making their way towards her. The dove took flight and Taka ran after her.
San smiled after them and climbed onto Kaeyo's waiting back. Off again...
Me – Die Typing!!!
Kieo- Cookie Time!!
Me- Yes, cookie/answer time.
Me- Thanks Buterfly9999, Earth/earthalawiggy, padfoot, didygal, snowhiteandthesevendragons, and thegoatfarmingskater.Kieo- Cookies!!
Bob- -hands out chocolate chip cookies-
Litaresanrin- You should probably make the chapters a bit longer though. One thing that I did notice was that you spelled the name of Ashitaka's tribe "Enmesh". Their name is "Emishi".
Me- Like this!? points to chapter 6 I do know that I spelt their name wrong. That's the spell checks' fault; I was too tired to correct it after.Nicole- I would like just one chapter dedicated to the love between those two.
Me- I don't know much about "deep love" after all I'm only 12. I will try to get in a chapter like that.
Toboe's Pup- Itake it that this Kieza girl is a slave for her own father? That's wrong if you ask me. If I were Ashitaka I would of punched Jigo he shouldn't take that crap from him. Last question why would San help out a human girl?
Me- Yes, Kieza is sort of a slave to her father, yes it is wrong. Ashitaka and San's personalities are both warped oddly. I don't really think Ashitaka would punch him, but that's me. Remember that this is my first fanfic and I'm used to writing with characters that I can dement to any extent I wish.Bob- -hand cookies to those with questions-
Me- Next disclaimer will be me and my friends' trip around the world in attempt to escape Bush and Florida's law against tying your alligator to a stop sign.
Bob- Bush-lovers take no offense and Storm, Wolfblitz's friend came up with the law thingy so don't get mad or anything....
Me- Yes, Please don't. Thank everyone for being so patient. The next chapter probably won't be up for a while....a really long while but I will get it up eventually. So keep being as patient as you have been. Thanks!